Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristan Lotz | 210513-N-ME396-1038 GROTON, Conn. (May 13, 2021) Genevieve Dufault poses for a photo...... read more read more
GROTON, Conn. – While Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London has changed and transformed in the last five decades, one thing has remained constant: the dedicated service of Genevieve Dufault at the Navy Exchange (NEX).
Dufault was recognized for her 50 years of NEX employment with a flag flown over the base, a certificate, and cake at the Dolphin Mart located off-base on Gungywamp Road on May 7.
Dufault runs the register at the Dolphin Mart, where she has worked for 25 years. Before that, she worked 25 years at the main NEX on base. Ironically, Dufault originally meant to work for the NEX only short-term.
“I was out looking for a job and I had an uncle who worked on the base running the gas station,” said Dufault. “He said, ‘I know the lady in charge’—her name was Gladys Ogle—‘I can get you a job.’ I refused, but he convinced me to come over from Norwich. I was just going to work there for six months because I had job offers at the telephone company and at Stop and Shop, but I ended up never leaving.”
Despite her initial reluctance, the NEX grew on Dufault and she ended up making a career of it.
“I liked the work I was doing in the camera department and the people here were so nice I decided let the other offers go and stay here,” said Dufault of her change of heart.
As Dufault stayed, she not only witnessed the base change and transform, but also the Navy Exchange itself.
When she started at the NEX, the store and outlying departments were centered around Dealey Center Plaza.
“Across the street was the stereo department,” said Dufault, describing the layout. “The men’s and children’s departments were behind [Building] 83. All the stores were separated. Then they built the new Exchange where it is now.”
Of course, for Default, the “new” Exchange in Building 484 was originally a second floor retailer with the base Commissary below it on the first floor until 2014.
Fifty years on, she has also seen Sailors rise through the ranks and retire, and their children eventually joining America’s Navy themselves. Among them was SUBASE New London’s former Command Master Chief Raj Sodhi.
“I’ve known Raj Sodhi for 23 years,” said Dufault. “I watched him go up [in rank]. I’ve had kids say to me, ‘Miss Jenny, my dad was in the Navy, now I’m in the Navy and I wanted to see if you’re still here.’”
Many of Dufault’s former coworkers are now either retired or no longer with us, but Dufault herself said she is not going anywhere for the time being.
“Everybody’s surprised because I’m 72 and they’ll tell me, ‘you should have retired!’ But what would I do? I’m not a television person. I can’t sit around watching TV all day,” said Dufault. “I’m going to work a few more years, so long as I feel well.”
Until then, Dufault can be found ringing up customers at the SUBASE Dolphin Mart Convenience Store, carrying on half a century of service, and not looking to exchange it yet.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2021 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 396834 |
| Location: | GROTON, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 326 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Half a Century of Service and Not Looking to Exchange it Yet, by PO2 Tristan Lotz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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